Family Photos

A few months ago I asked my dad to scan and email me a few pictures for the post I wrote about our family vacation to a dude ranch. He said he would send me all the pictures because that would be easier. A box arrived today..29 pounds per the UPS slip and it's ALL my family's pictures. I haven't gotten thru all of them yet, but it also includes pictures I have never seen, like pictures from my grandparents' wedding. I have mixed emotions about all this. I like looking at the pictures, but wonder why my dad doesn't want any of them anymore.

Thursday Thirteen - Vacation Update

Here is an update on last week's Thursday Thirteen to see which things I actually did on vacation.

FLORIDA

1. Lay on the beach and soak up the sun. Only a few minutes at a time though because I burn so then I'll move back under the umbrella. Yes, but not as much as I hoped for. Day 1 the hotel was not putting up umbrellas (wind?) so I could only stay out a little while. Day 2 we were out in the swamps in the morning and it was cloudy in the afternoon. Day 3 I finally had a nice time under an umbrella on the beach.

2. Drink tasty drinks at the tiki bar. Yes, we had drinks, but they were really really weak.

3. Have a romantic dinner at the beach side restaurant. Done on the first night. We had a table outside with a view of the sunset.

4. Visit the Everglades. Done. We were on quite the swamp tour.

5. Watch the sun set over the ocean. Yep, from the restaurant and from the room balcony.

6. Go for a long walk on the beach. Every day.

VEGAS

7. Gamble! Mostly blackjack and maybe a little bit of craps. Yes, but not nearly as much as I hoped for.

8. Win the Megabucks jackpot. It's at almost $13 million! No...so I had to go back to work.

9. Drink too much and regret it since I don't bounce back like I used to. Oh yes, night number 1.

10. Sit by the pool and recover from # 9. Day number two.

11. Eat some yummy food. Yes. Red 8 at the Wynn, Fiamma at MGM and Fix at Bellagio were all really good.

12. Take pictures. For some reason I never seem to take pictures in Vegas. Nope...one friend took 1 picture that I know of and that's it.

13. Spend quality time with friends. Yep, but not as much as I hoped for since we were split into two groups part of the time.

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Happy Anniversary To Me

Today is our six year wedding anniversary. It seems like it should be a higher number since we dated for over four years before getting married. Here are some of my favorite wedding pictures.

I'm Back!

I'm back from Vegas and my Yahoo email is working again! I'll post an update on my trips soon.

No Email!!!

I am home for a bit in between trips and I cannot access my email! I use Yahoo and it says I have a bunch of messages, but I cannot get to it! I looked up the error I get online and it says Yahoo has to fix it for me, so now I wait...

On Vacation!

I'm on vacation! This should be the view from my hotel room.

The End

Good job...maybe next year. Let's hope Manny sticks around.

Thursday Thirteen - Vacation!

I leave on vacation on Sunday to go to Florida with my husband and Vegas with some girlfriends! Here are 13 things I plan to do.

FLORIDA

1. Lay on the beach and soak up the sun. Only a few minutes at a time though because I burn so then I'll move back under the umbrella.

2. Drink tasty drinks at the tiki bar.

3. Have a romantic dinner at the beach side restaurant.

4. Visit the Everglades.

5. Watch the sun set over the ocean.

6. Go for a long walk on the beach.

VEGAS

7. Gamble! Mostly blackjack and maybe a little bit of craps.

8. Win the Megabucks jackpot. It's at almost $13 million!

9. Drink too much and regret it since I don't bounce back like I used to.

10. Sit by the pool and recover from # 9.

11. Eat some yummy food.

12. Take pictures. For some reason I never seem to take pictures in Vegas.

13. Spend quality time with friends.

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We Have No Record of your Reservation

Aaargh...I called the hotel we are staying at in Florida in a few days to confirm the reservation and they have no record of it. I booked it through American Airlines Vacations so I could pay with miles. AA is trying to get the hotel confirmation number for me so I can call the hotel again. I usually book directly with the hotel to avoid this kinds of problems, but since I am paying with miles I used AA. I also called the Palazzo in Vegas to get them to adjust the rate on our rooms for December since it came down. The rate was adjusted, but they said they could not refund the difference in my deposit until I arrive at the hotel. Since I also booked a room for my in laws, this is now a big hassle. I ended up booking two more rooms online at the new rate and now need to call back again to cancel the original two. I don't know whey they make this so difficult. I really don't like talking to people to make reservations for things (travel, restaurants, hair, etc). It's so much easier to do everything online. So that was a half hour of my life wasted that I will never get back...oh, and I still don't know if I have a room in Florida yet or not.

My Cat is Staring at the Wall

Minky the great grey hunter of our house is staring at the walls again. He even got up out of his cat furniture from sleeping to go stare at the wall. I used to think he was just crazy, but now I know better. He is a patient little man. Eventually whatever he hears in the wall will come out and he will have his way with it. Hopefully this will all happen in the middle of the night when I don't have to see it.

Music Monday - Womanizer

Britney's new video came out over the weekend. It debuted on 20/20...well, MTV doesn't play music anymore so I guess 20/20 will do. I remember MTV in the early years when a new video was a big deal. Anyway...she looks great and seems to have old Britney energy back. I don't like the song, but the video is good...a lot like Toxic from a few years ago where where she goes through different persona's after a man.

National Coming Out Day

Happy National Coming Out Day!

Thursday Thirteen

I couldn’t think of a topic this week so here are just 13 random things.

1. I’m not into Dancing with the Stars this season. There’s nobody I think is really good or that I want to root for.

2. I finally broke down and bought the plane tickets out to California for Christmas…almost $1,500 for the two of us. Ouch! I don’t think my family realizes how expensive it is to visit…but they probably think it’s my punishment for moving away.

3. I love Chick Fil-A. I can get something healthy (grilled chicken sandwich and a fruit cup) and I don’t have to make any exceptions to hold the mayo because they do not put any condiments on anything. It’s all on the side. =)

4. I leave on vacation in 10 days! A four day trip to Florida with my husband and then three days in Vegas with girlfriends.

5. A portion of my driveway is shared with two other neighbors. It needs to get sealed so I’m trying to coordinate which is hard because I have never met one of them. He has another place and doesn’t spend much time at the house by mine.

6. The Biggest Loser is my favorite show this season. I was sad to see Jerry go. I like how they have changed the format so the contestants can’t target and vote out the strong ones.

7. I’m trying not to get freaked out by the economy and all the money our investments have lost.

8. The leaves are starting to change. Fall usually puts me in a funk and I’m trying to fight it this year.

9. I’m still struggling with my weight. I am an emotional eater and any good days I have can quickly be negated in one meal.

10. I think Angelina Jolie had some work done on her face. People are talking about her having a tummy tuck, but I think her face looks different too.

11. I am soon to become a Six Sigma Green Belt.

12. I still haven’t decided who I am going to vote for.

13. A co-worker’s wife asked me to make a treat for their dog’s birthday so I made a 5 inch bundt cake. It was a peanut butter cake covered with melted carob and decorated with yogurt. All dog friendly ingredients.

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Cat People - I Need Advice!

I need help with my cats. I have two male cats that are about 3 and a half years old and litter mates. They are extremely close...clean each other, play together, sleep together. My problem is that they are urinating outside the litter boxes...not somewhere else all together, but on the edges, the floor next to it and the wall next to it. They get in the box and squat like usual, but then will start to stand up and the urine goes on the edge, floor, wall. Does anyone know why they are doing this and how I can get them to stop??? Oh, and they are also scratching the hell out of my couches. Is it a territory thing? Are they just lazy? Could they be sick? This only started about six months ago.

Wordless Wednesday - Curiosity

No Dream World Series, But...

The Dodgers are still in it! They swept the Cubs in three games and looked really good. The Angels on the other hand lost their series. If only one team was going to move on I'm glad it was the Dodgers. They have not won a playoff series in 20 years...yes, 20 years I have been waiting.

Thursday Thirteen - Me on a Reality Show

If I was on a reality show...

1. The Amazing Race - I would want my brother to be my partner.

2. American Idol - I would sing Alone by Heart.

3. Survivor - I would probably be the sick girl who is nauseous for days from the boat ride to the island.

4. America's Next Top Model - I am too short and don't meet the height requirements so I can't even consider this one. I wonder what they would do to me on the makeover though.

5. The Hills - I would rather be friends with Brody than any of the girls.

6. The Biggest Loser - I would want Jillian to be my trainer and I would call Alison her Days of Our Lives name (Sami) instead of her real name. I would hate having to weigh in in front of America wearing the most unflattering outfit possible (sport bra and biker shorts).

7. Dancing with the Stars - I usually only like to dance when I'm drinking, which I'm pretty sure is the same for Cloris Leachman.

8. What Not to Wear - I like everything except having to throw out my current clothes so I would try to hide some to keep. I can't see myself at the grocery store or Baja Fresh wearing the outfits they pick out for people.

9. Hell's Kitchen - Chef Ramsey would definitely make me cry.

10. Top Chef - I would make either prosciutto wrapped chicken (with mozzarella cheese and fresh basil in the middle) or chicken wrapped in phyllo dough (with mushrooms, shallots, garlic, spinach and asiago cheese in the middle).

11. The Real World - No way I could put up with those people...although I'm sure I would have had fun on the Vegas season. I would put up with a lot to live in a casino for three months. I'm way over the age limit for the show though.

12. The Apprentice - I would try to win, then refuse the offer...like when the Bachelorette didn't want either of the final guys.

13. My work could be a new show...like a real version of The Office.

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Go Blue!

One of my childhood dreams may come true in the next few weeks...a Dodgers/Angels world series! I grew up a huge Dodger fan. My family was split between favoring the Dodgers and the Angels. I supported them both, but my heart has always been with the Dodgers. My first crushes in life were Dodger players (Steve Garvey then Steve Sax) and I wanted to have my wedding in Dodger stadium in between games of a double header. Anyway...I have waited my entire life for a Dodgers/Angels world series and there is the possibility of it happening this year. The playoffs start today so good luck boys!

Wordless Wednesday - A Present!

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